Court Declines Arrest Warrant for Sowore, Adjourns Case to December

The Federal High Court in Abuja has refused a request by the Department of State Services to issue a bench warrant against activist and Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, over his absence in court on Wednesday.

Sowore faces a five-count charge filed by the DSS, accusing him of criminal defamation under the Cybercrimes Amendment Act, 2024. The agency alleges he posted false statements on Facebook and X, referring to President Bola Tinubu as “a criminal,” and claims the posts threatened national security and public order.

With Meta (Facebook) Inc. and X Corporation listed as co-defendants, the DSS urged Justice Mohammed Umar to order Sowore’s arrest for failing to appear and not sending legal representation. However, the judge declined, noting that X Corporation had not yet been served with the formal charge sheet.

Justice Umar ordered that all parties be properly served and adjourned the arraignment to 2 December 2025. Counsel for Meta and X both confirmed receipt of hearing notices, while prosecutors described Sowore’s absence as a deliberate attempt to stall proceedings.

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